Chapter 10

Fire, Everywhere!

AXEL'S P.O.V.

I kept tapping my foot repeatedly as I waited for Xion to come to my apartment. I should've told her to meet me around the campus, but whatever.

All I'm going to do is explain our situation NICELY then ask her to leave me alone so I can go back to chilling with Roxas and only worry about his stupid parents accepting me, yet I'm still going to be with him whether they like it or not…

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

She's here.

I slowly stood up from the couch and opened the door to see Xion standing there before me. She looks different… Here skin is paler than usual and she looks like she lost a lot of weight even though she was always skinny.

"Hello, Axel," she said in a soft voice.

"Come in," I muttered.

Xion nervously walked into my house, and just stood there. She sure hasn't changed, that is for sure.

"You can sit down, you know," I said to her.

She sat on the living room chair as I sat across from her on the couch.

"Did you miss me?" She asked in a whisper.

"That is what I want to talk to you about, Xion. I don't miss you."

Man, that sounded a little harsh, shit.

"Then why did you tell me to come over?" She gasped.

"To talk about our situation. Xion, I told you from the beginning that I wasn't looking for anything serious. I never once told you that I loved you or anything like that. We were just hooking up…"

She interrupted me. "But, it meant a lot to me… No, us!"

"Xion, I'll admit I was wrong. I shouldn't have kept hanging out with you. I was stupid and I'm sorry."

"Well, why don't we go back to what we used to be? I want to be with you, Axel! I love you!"

This is going to be harder than I thought.

"We are not going back to what he used to be, Xion. Look, you're an amazing girl and I know there is someone out there that will give you everything you want and need."

"Why can't you be that person, Axel?"

Tears started to form in her eyes and I'm not going to lie, but I feel like a shitty person. I don't want to see her cry. I fucked up, okay? I should've ended our little rendezvous a long time ago, yet I didn't because I was so stupid…

"Because I don't love you like that, Xion. I'll be here for you and I'll help you with anything you need, but we can't go back to the way things were, okay?"

"Is it because of Roxas?" A tear fell down her cheek making me cringe inside. I hate it when she cries like this.

"I don't want to bring him into this, but I really care about him and I'm trying to build a relationship with him, you know? I didn't stop talking to you because of him. I stopped talking to you because I knew that I wasn't into you like that."

"Are you into Roxas like that?" She asked harshly.

"Well, yeah…"

I shouldn't have admitted that to her, but maybe she'll take the hint that I'm into him and leave me alone. I don't know what else to say or do. This is my only hope.

"Well, he's mad at you and I'm glad he found out about us," she muttered.

My eyes widened. "You talked to him?!"

I clenched my teeth. Why is she going around telling him about us? I told him all that he needs to know besides that she is a student. Great, now he's going to think I'm like Dem. I'm fucked!

"Yes, and I told him everything. Do not be surprised if he never talks to you again," she threatened in a low voice.

"Get out."

"Axel…"

"I said get out! I want nothing to do with you. Stay out of mine and Roxas' life!" I raised my voice.

Xion's eyes widened but she slowly nodded. She stood up from the chair and left my apartment in silence.

Well, I failed on trying to be nice towards her.

*~*~*~*The Philosophy Teacher*~*~*~*

ROXAS' P.O.V.

It's the next day and I'm mentally exhausted. I didn't sleep at all last night.

Axel tried to text me a couple of times last night, but, of course, I didn't bother answering him. I wonder what he and Xion talked about? I'm not jealous or anything, I just want to know…

There's no point in talking to him when he's clearly not the person I fell for.

"Roxas? You're going to be late for your classes!" Sora crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm skipping," I muttered. What's worse than being lied to? Mondays.

"You can't skip! Midterms are this week!" Sora gasped.

"I don't have any midterms today, so what's the point in going?"

"You're lying, Roxas!" My brother snapped.

Honestly, I am not. I only have two midterms tomorrow and one on Wednesday. What sucks, though is that Axel's exam is the first one I have to take. I really don't feel like dealing with him…

"Roxas?"

"I only have two tomorrow and one on Wednesday, Sora," I said annoyingly.

"Alright, but I think you should go to your classes today." His voice trailed.

"Ugh, worry about yourself and leave me alone." I groaned.

Sora shook his head at me before leaving me alone so I can go back to sleep, but I couldn't force myself to fall asleep so I decided to go outside and get some fresh air for a little bit.

As soon as I went outside, I sat at a table and watched as the students walked passed me.

"Why are you sitting by yourself?" I heard a deep voice.

I turned my head to see Seifer. He's in one of my classes, but I don't know why he's talking to me; we never spoke to each other before.

"Um, I don't know," I answered.

"Well, why don't you chill with me and the crew? Roxas, right?"

Why does Seifer want to hang out with me? That's strange…

"Y-yeah and you're Seifer."

"Yep, so let's go then." He flashed me a grin.

"Wait, now?"

"Yeah, come on."

I got up from my seat and followed him. I started to freak out when I realized we were walking away from the campus.

Where are we going?

"Here we are!" Seifer announced.

"What?"

I eyed the abandoned house. There's no way I'm going in there; it looks haunted!

Seifer snorted. "What are you scared? Relax, my friends and I always hang here."

"What do you do in there?"

"We just drink and smoke. Geez, don't tell me you're going to bail? The reason why I asked you to tag along because I thought you were cool, but I guess not." He rolled his eyes.

"No, I'm cool… Let's go then…" I hardly drink, but maybe hanging with Seifer and his friends would get my mind off of Axel. It's better than staying in my dorm room all day.

Seifer and I entered the house and it's what I expected. The house is dark and full of cobwebs. There's no furniture around just broken glass everywhere.

We entered an empty room and I'm assuming that the two people in here are his friends…

"Roxas, this is Fuu…" Seifer pointed at a short, blue-haired girl. "And… This is Raigin." He introduced me to a guy with dark hair and tan skin.

"Nice to meet you, y'know!" Raigin grinned.

"Greetings," Fuu said sternly.

"Hi, nice to meet you both." I gently smiled.

"Okay, so enough about that, let us start drinking!" Seifer announced.

"I got us some vodka, y'know!" Raigin began to pour all four of us vodka in plastic cups.

I don't think I can drink straight vodka, but I'm too embarrassed to admit that. I guess they are all heavy drinkers.

We all took a glass and raised them high in the air.

"What should we cheers to?" Seifer asked.

"Fuck midterms week," I muttered to myself.

"Yeah, I like that!" Seifer laughed out loud.

We all cheered, "fuck midterms week" before clanging our plastic cups and chugging our drinks.

I felt my throat burning as I'm chugging the vodka, but I don't mind; it's less pain than thinking about Axel.

*~*~*~*The Philosophy Teacher*~*~*~*

AXEL'S P.O.V.

I just got done teaching a couple of my classes; I have one more to go before I'm done.

I have been trying to get in contact with Roxas, but he's ignoring me. Whatever Xion has said to him, it really pissed him off.

How annoying.

"Hey, Axel!" I heard a familiar voice.

I turned around to see Sora standing there before me with a huge grin on his face. I guess Roxas didn't tell him that we got into a fight or anything…

"What's up?" I asked casually.

"Nothing… Hey, are you chilling with Roxas later? He seems down in the dumps about something… I don't know."

I didn't want to let Sora know anything about Roxas and me, so I guess I have to play dumb. "I don't know, yet. Do you know where he is?"

"Well, I know he's skipping his classes today, so he's probably hanging in our room," he answered.

"Ah, got it."

I didn't want to go in the dorm rooms to see him. Hell, my luck I would see Xion in there and I don't feel like dealing with her again.

"Well, I'll see you later, Axel. Hope you can get Roxas out of being in a bad mood!" Sora waved before leaving me.

Too bad I'm the one who put him in a bad mood.

*~*~*~*The Philosophy Teacher*~*~*~*

ROXAS' P.O.V.

Oh, my head hurts and my whole body is starting to feel numb.

"Yo, you good Roxas?" Seifer asked.

"Ugh, yeah," I muttered.

"Drunk," Fuu stated.

"Yeah, you're a lightweight, y'know!" Raigin laughed.

I blushed at their comments, but I don't care. I'm not a heavy drinker, so I shouldn't expect for my body to handle this much alcohol.

We finished the whole bottle of vodka, even though I didn't drink most of it.

"Hey, so do you have the blunts?" Seifer questioned Raigin.

"Of course, I do, Y'know!" Raigin took out a joint from his pocket.

I never smoked weed before, but I heard it's nothing bad...

"You want to hit it first, Roxas?" Seifer asked.

"No, I'm good," I answered.

"Whatever, I'll hit first then," Seifer sighed as he lit the joint up with his lighter.

Seifer inhaled then exhaled the joint. He then passed it to Fuu and she did the same thing as Seifer. After she was done, she passed it to Raigin, but Raigin dropped the joint.

"You idiot, hurry up and pick it up!" Seifer snapped at his friend.

Raigin tried to pick the joint up off the ground, but he kept dropping it. At least, I know I'm not the only one drunk.

Seifer and Fuu started to make fun of him until Raigin finally picked up the joint, but then he knocked over a new bottle of vodka when he went to reposition how he was sitting.

"Awe, dumbass!" Seifer groaned.

"Funny," Fuu chuckled.

"Whatever, it's not a big deal, y'know!?" Raigin inhaled then exhaled the joint. He then passed it to me, but as soon as I inhaled it, I started to cough violently.

"First time?" Seifer raised a brow.

I handed him the joint. "Ugh, yeah."

"It's cool," he said as he took a hit of the joint.

I felt my phone vibrating and I already knew who it was without looking, but I am curious to see what Axel has to say.

Axel: Hey, I know you hate me right now, but can we talk?

Axel: Please, Roxas? I need to explain myself.

Me: I'm drinking in an abandoned house. Leave me alone.

Axel: What?

I don't know why I texted him that, but I'll blame the alcohol for my foolish actions.

"I wonder if fire and alcohol mix, y'know?" Raigin unexpectedly took his lighter out and started to light the spilled alcohol that was on the floor.

Fuu, Seifer, and I all screamed for him to stop, but it was too late! The fire from his lighter started to spread flames on the floor. We all got up and didn't hesitate to try and sprint out the door.

It's just my luck I was the only one who couldn't escape because the fire spread so fast that the flames blocked the entrance of the room. How am I going to get out of here?!
"Guys? Guys!" I called out to them, but they were already gone.

I began to panic as the flames were surrounding me. I'm going to die!

Axel, help me!

*~*~*~*The Philosophy Teacher*~*~*~*

AXEL'S P.O.V.

I was going to call Roxas, but I saw three kids screaming how the abandoned house is burnt down and someone is trapped inside…

WAIT, ABANDONED HOUSE?!

"Hey, wait!" I shouted at the three kids.

"Yo, someone needs help! We can't wait!" A guy with a black beanie on stated.

"Scared," the girl commented.

"Look, who's the kid in trouble?" I tried my best to calm them down. There's no way that person trapped inside would be Roxas, right?

"His name is Roxas…"

"WHAT?! Where is he?!" I shouted.

"It's the abandoned house outside of campus, y'know?" The kid with the black hair said.

I didn't bother to answer them as I sprinted to the house. I can't believe Roxas got himself into this mess. I can tell the kids were drunk so he was probably partying with him. God dammit!

My eyes widened when I stood in front of the house that was in flames, but I didn't hesitate to go inside to find him.

"ROXAS?!" I called out his name. Damn, he's not answering.

I tried my best to avoid the flames, but it's kind of hard since they are scattered everywhere. I hope he's okay.

I then saw his body lying on the floor, and the flames were surrounding him. I rushed over to him even though I don't know how in the hell I dodged the fire, but hey, I'm not complaining.

I picked his body up in a cradle and broke a window with my foot to go through it since there's no way I can get back out the entrance way. It's all fucking blocked off.

"Axel?" Roxas slowly opened his eyes and stared at me.

"Relax, I got you," I mumbled as I crawled out the window with him in my arms. Thank God he's okay. If it wasn't for him texting me about this place then I wouldn't be able to find him…

*~*~*~*The Philosophy Teacher*~*~*~*

ROXAS' P.O.V.

I felt my head pounding as I slowly opened my eyes. Am I alive? That's right, Axel saved my life from that burning house.

"Roxas?"

I went to sit up, but Axel pushed me back down on the bed gently.

"Stay in bed," he ordered.

"You saved me," I whispered.

"Yeah, if it wasn't for your text and your friends that were screaming around campus then it wouldn't have ended too well." Axel frowned.

I grabbed his hand that was resting on my chest. "I'm sorry I overreacted."

"No, I get it… Look, I talked to her last night about everything. I told her about us, so I hope she leaves me alone, if not…"

I interrupted him. "Then we'll find another way."

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Um, so that's why you texted her, huh?" I asked.

"Yep, wait how did you know?"

"I went to see Namine yesterday and Xion was there with her then she announced that you texted her," I explained.

Axel rolled his eyes. "Geez."

"She told me you called her "love bug" too."

Axel gave me a confused look. "What? No, I didn't. Wow, you know me more than anyone. I would never give someone a corny ass nickname. It's not in my nature." He started to chuckle.

"That's what I thought too! So, she lied…"

"Love bug." He snorted.

"Can I ask you something?" I want to know if Xion and I are the only students he's been with.

"If you move over and let me lay with you," he said seductively.

I scooted over to make room for him and he didn't hesitate to lay in bed with me.

"What is your question?" He turned his head to study me.

"Are Xion and I the only students you hooked up with?"

"Yeah and you'll be the last one I hook up with…"

I felt myself smiling at his comment. "Cool."

"Does anything hurt?" He questioned in concern.

"Just my head."

"Psh, that's your own fault for drinking during midterm week."

I deeply sighed. "Please don't talk like my brother."

"Ha, just saying."

I turned on my side and wrapped my arm around his chest. "What would I do without you, Axel?"

"I thought the same thing when I had you in my arms. I don't know what I would do without you," he whispered.

"Axel…"

"Hey, I don't want to think about losing you; let's change the subject."

I looked up at him and nodded. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

"Actually, I have a question for you," he hummed.

"Go on."

"Are we official or we still not together?"

I gasped. "We never broke up…"

"You made out like we were over."

"No, I said I needed a break."

"That's the same thing, Roxas."

I thought for a moment and realized he's right. Geez, that didn't last… "Well, can we make it official again?"

"Sure." He gently smiled at me.

"Hey, Axel?"

"Hm?"

"I've been selfish and I didn't realize it until after you saved my life. You are willing to make everything work even though my parents are against it, but when I heard about your crazy ex, I wanted to call it quits… I'm sorry, Axel."

I feel like shit for doing that to him. Axel is always there for me when I'm ready to push him away when I think things will get complicated between us. I need to contribute more to this relationship.

"Don't worry about it, Roxas. Just promise me that you will not give up on us, that's all I want," he said softly.

"I won't give up on us, I promise," I grinned.

"Good." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Don't tell me you're going to sleep," I whined.

"After what all went down today, I deserve a nap," he whispered.

"Fine." I nuzzled into his chest, as I held onto him tighter. He then wrapped his arm around me so I was closer to him.

Axel proved to me so many times that he's there for me. I need to do the same for him. I want us to work, I KNOW we will work.

No one can break our bond, not my parents, Xion, anyone.